Programmatic and Operational Leadership

Dr. Francisca “Nena” Leal, has over 25 years of experience as a medical doctor and emergency surgeon in her native Venezuela.  After relocating to California she focused her career on public health.  She started volunteering at Latino Health Access in the Healthy Weight Program.  Due to her knowledge of the causes and treatment of diseases as well as the root factors that cause these illnesses, she soon became a program coordinator and then the Director of the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention programs, including but not limited to Diabetes, Weight Management, and Emotional Wellness. As the Director for the COVID-19 Response Program, she oversees services for affected patients, housing for isolation, food distribution, testing, vaccination, and the creation of a recovery plan. She has accumulated  more than 15 years of experience in public health, working directly with community health workers and serving underserved residents of Orange County. 

Nena enjoys meditation, nature and outdoor activities like gardening and
motorcycle riding.